Nitish may expand ministry after budget

PATNA: The NDA legislators who are waiting to bag ministerial positions in the Nitish Kumar-led NDA government seems to be getting restive over the delay in cabinet expansion. Speculations about the expansion are doing the rounds, but they have not yet translated into reality.

If NDA sources are to be believed, the chief minister, Mr Nitish Kumar is likely to expand his ministry only after the budget session. According to NDA sources, some ministers will be dropped while some portfolios will be reshuffled in the proposed expansion exercise. It will also see induction of new ministers.

The 27-member Nitish government can be increased to 36 on the basis of the strength of the state Assembly. Given their strength in the Assembly, the BJP will have a quota of five more ministers while the JD(U) may induct four more ministers. In effect, only nine new ministers can be inducted into the council of ministers.

“The expansion will not be a big deal. The larger game plan for the NDA leadership is to accommodate more legislators on posts that will have the rank and privileges of a minister. The whole exercise, including the expansion and the appointments of chairpersons of different state boards and corporations will be completed in one go. Those aspirants who will not be able to make it to the ministry will be slotted for posts in boards and corporations,” an NDA leader said.

When the Nitish Kumar government was sworn into office on November 24, 2005, some regions did not find any representation in the ministry. For example, no one was made a minister from the old Shahabad region. According to sources, the chief minister, this time, will take corrective steps for ensuring region-wise representation in the ministry.

Even those caste groups which may have been left out in the first round will find representation after the proposed expansion. The axe is likely to fall on some ministers whose performances have been unsatisfactory. In fact, according to sources, the chief minister is unhappy over the performances of at least three ministers.

“One year is a long period and if the under-performing ministers have not learnt their les-sons by now, it will be a waste of time and effort to continue with them. This will mean that they will be replaced and possibly portfolios of some will be changed. Apart from policy matters, the chief minister allowed complete freedom to the ministers and never interfered in their functioning,” a senior JD(U) leader said.

The thinking within the NDA leadership is clear that there will be no political backlash in the event of any minister getting dropped. “The NDA’s win in the byelections to the Bhagalpur and Nalanda Lok Sabha seats and the Manihari Assembly seat have added a lot to the growing political stature of Mr Nitish Kumar.

Given the tremendous goodwill the people have shown for the chief minister, the ministers who will be dropped can ill afford to raise their voice of dissent,” an NDA leader said.